Sisal etc instead of floorboards

[Eloise791]

We're currently doing up a country cottage. The original plan was to have elm floorboards but unfortunately price rises have made this unaffordable, so I'm thinking of sisal flooring or similar.

Just wondered if anyone had this and what they thought of it? Is there anything else I could consider to get a similar look? Cottage is 17th C so anything modern is going to look wrong, DH not keen on tiles.

Thank you!

I didn't like it. It seemed to hold every crumb, hair or spill and was hard to keep clean. IMO false economy because you'll be getting elm floorboards in months after hating the sisal.

Do they have to be solid elm? Obviously lots of cheaper options. Karndean or similar can give a similar effect. I think I'd go for slate tiles, could add sisal rugs for warmth maybe.

Looks very messy very quickly.

I loved the look of it, but it wasn't comfortable under foot, and the slightest spill was impossible to clean.